superlative
/suːˈpɜːlətɪv/ (bre, ipa) · [sʊpˈɚlətɪv] /suːˈpɜːrlətɪv/ (ame, ipa) · [sʊpˈɚlətɪv] /su̇-ˈpər-lə-tiv How to pronounce superlative (audio)/ (ame, mw) · /suːˈpɜː.lə.tɪv/ (bre, ipa) · [sʊpˈɚlətɪv] /səˈpɝː.lə.t̬ɪv/ (ame, ipa)
superlative — 形容詞
- superlativepositive
- more superlativecomparative
- most superlativesuperlative
1. better than all others of the same kind, showing the finest standard.
極佳
品質或表現比同類都好
better than all others of the same kind, showing the finest standard.
The restaurant served a superlative meal after the long mountain walk.
那家餐廳在漫長的山路健行後端上極佳的一餐。
collocation: superlative meal
Nkechi gave a superlative performance in the school jazz concert.
Nkechi 在學校爵士音樂會上帶來了極佳的演出。
collocation: superlative performance
The guide offered superlative care during the stormy boat crossing.
那位嚮導在風浪很大的渡船航程中提供了極佳的照顧。
Everyone agreed that Sari's bread was superlative at the market fair.
大家都同意 Sari 在市集嘉年華賣的麵包品質極佳。
- excellent
the most general choice for very high quality
- outstanding
emphasises being noticeably better than others
- first-rate
slightly more informal and often used for services or work
文法句型
superlative + noun
be + superlative
用法筆記
Often used to praise quality or performance in a strong, formal way. Unlike sense 2, this sense describes how good something is, not a grammar label.
常見錯誤
2. describing the grammar pattern used to show that one person or thing has more of
最高級的
與文法最高級形式有關
describing the grammar pattern used to show that one person or thing has more of a quality than all others, as in best or most difficult.
Our grammar chart lists tallest as a superlative adjective.
我們的文法表把 tallest 列為最高級形容詞。
pattern: superlative adjective
The teacher underlined the superlative ending in the word smallest.
老師在 smallest 這個字裡畫出了最高級字尾。
collocation: superlative ending
In that sentence, most careful works as a superlative form.
在那個句子裡，most careful 是最高級形式。
Jude forgot that the already marks a superlative adjective in English.
Jude 忘了英語裡 the 會標記最高級形容詞。
文法句型
superlative + adjective
superlative + form
用法筆記
Usually appears with words such as form, degree, adjective, or adverb. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense talks about grammar classification rather than quality.
常見錯誤
superlative — 名詞
- superlativesingular
- superlativesplural
1. the grammar pattern that shows the top degree of comparison for a describing wor
最高級
形容詞副詞的最高級形式
the grammar pattern that shows the top degree of comparison for a describing word or a word that modifies an action.
Ms. Chen explained that fastest is the superlative form of fast.
Ms. Chen 解釋 fastest 是 fast 的最高級形式。
collocation: superlative form
During the quiz, Bilal circled best as the superlative of good.
測驗時，Bilal 圈出 best，因為它是 good 的最高級。
The workbook asked students to change tall into its superlative form.
這本練習本要學生把 tall 改成它的最高級形式。
In Korean class, the teacher compared comparative and superlative endings.
在韓語課上，老師比較了比較級和最高級字尾。
文法句型
the superlative of + adjective
superlative form
用法筆記
Used in grammar talk, often after the or with words like form and degree. Distinguish from adjective sense 2, which uses superlative to describe another grammar term.
常見錯誤
2. the greatest point something can reach in strength, value, success, or developme
巔峰；極致
某事能達到的最高點
the greatest point something can reach in strength, value, success, or development.
Winning the science prize felt like the superlative of Lena's school years.
贏得科展獎讓 Lena 覺得那是學生時代的巔峰。
pattern: the superlative of + period of life
After months of training, crossing the line was the superlative of Imran's ambition.
經過數月訓練後，衝過終點線成了 Imran 志向的極致。
For the village, clean drinking water was the superlative of progress.
對這個村子來說，乾淨的飲用水就是進步的極致。
The chef called the harvest dinner the superlative of local cooking.
主廚把豐收晚宴稱作在地料理的巔峰。
文法句型
the superlative of + noun phrase
用法筆記
Usually appears in elevated writing to describe a peak or highest point. Distinguish from sense 3: this sense names the peak itself, not words of praise about it.
常見錯誤
3. language that praises someone or something so strongly that it may sound bigger
溢美之詞
誇大而熱烈的讚美話語
language that praises someone or something so strongly that it may sound bigger than the facts justify.
The reviewer's superlatives made the small bookstore sound world-famous.
那位評論家的溢美之詞讓那家小書店聽起來像世界名店。
pattern: superlatives made + noun + sound + adjective
At dinner, Christopher spoke in superlatives about the soup his aunt made.
吃晚飯時，Christopher 一直用溢美之詞稱讚阿姨做的湯。
collocation: speak in superlatives
The campaign ad was packed with superlatives and very few facts.
那支競選廣告充滿溢美之詞，事實卻很少。
Beatriz's farewell speech avoided superlatives and thanked the team plainly.
Beatriz 的告別演說避開溢美之詞，只平實地感謝團隊。
文法句型
speak in superlatives
superlatives about + noun
用法筆記
Often used in the plural when someone is praising too strongly. Distinguish from sense 2: here the word means the praise expressions themselves, not the highest stage of something.